Profile Photo
Djordje Colovic
53 articles

1/48 Eduard F104J Eiko

April 20, 2020 · in Aviation · 15 · 1.7K

Dear Friends, greetings from Serbia!

I've been trying to use carantine for more modelling, and I'm finishing 3 models at this time. This is my attempt in Eduard's F104 in JASDF service.

I will not write about this plane because of many reasons. First, I don't like jets, apart from F4s and Mig 29 and Mig 21. I've decided to do this model because I'm in love with anything which is connected with Japan! From samurais, Zeros and their F4s... I received this LTD model, which is Hasegawa's plastic with Eduard's resin, decals and pes...

Well, there goes the problem 🙂

Plastic is ok, I had only one problem, big problem, left wing was about 2cm lower than right, I had to break it, make some more supports and reconect it again. Everything else went really smooth and without problems. PE and resin parts from Eduard are simply the great! But... decals... Oh my God... I thought that Eduard included Cartograf decals in this set, but decals are made by Eduard, and I had so many problems with them... The warped, wrinkled, broke, teared... I had to use roundels from other Cartograf set... I didn't put any of the decals ithout some problem...

really good part of the kit is the Book about F104 in Japanese service, many useful pictures, interview... I was thinking about weathering, but I saw on pictures that these F104s in JASDF service are maintened so good that You will think that they have just landed from the factory!

I've done simple wethering in panel lines and done some oil work with Abteilung 502 oils.

Pictures could be better, but I can't take phots outside because of poor wether in Serbia. I've done some shooting below lights on the black canvas. But metal parts on the model are polished and they have some shine on my Canon camera, I've put some filters on the lens, I used 50mm lens, 18mm, 55-250... but shine is stil on... At the end I'm satisfied with the outcome.

Please make free to comment and make some suggestions.

Cheers and best wishes!

Take care during these hard pandemic times!

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


15 responses

  1. Great build! I just finished a 1/32 scale 104 and I am starting another one. Great aircraft!

    • Thank You sir ? ! This is excellent kit, if You are planning to this one from Eduard just be careful with decals. Maybe I have done something wrong, but they gave me hard time transferring them from carrier to model itself. But, once they are on the model they were good.

  2. Hey Djordje,

    Fantastic build - I haven't built a significant jet since getting back into the hobby - but this build inspires me to dig out this version of a plane I've always loved the shape of.

    There is currently a group build on about all things Japanese on iModeler. Run by the fantastic Louis Gardner @lgardner. Have you joined? You'll get a great reception - especially if your other builds are 'Empire' related.

    • Thank You for Your kind words!
      The shape of the plane is somehow ... odd 🙂 It remainds me of dart 🙂
      I think that group is about post WWI and WWII planes 🙂
      I have some Zeros 🙂

  3. Very cool Djordje. Nice and oddball, they way I like 'em. Odd about the wing. These are Hasegawa molds and I built one without issue earlier in the year

    • Thank You George (Djordje is George in English 🙂 ) .
      Maybe I did something wrong with the port side of the plane so the wing use to hang down a little bit. Luckily the glue didn't cure so I menaged to repair it 🙂

  4. Great work, Djordje! I've built this beauty 15 years ago as a gift to a friend. I finished it in "tiger" scheme of Hellenic Air Force. Here is a pic from the real plane, as I don't have phiotos of my model. I love the scheme you did.
    All the best!

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

  5. Djordje, I really like the paint scheme, I must add I too have had problems with Eduards decals, Really too bad. Very well done !

    • Thank You Terry! It was horror with decals, I've tried almost everything from different temperatures of water to Microsol, Microset... I did good preparation of surface with GX100, but transferring them to the model was horror...

  6. Very nice - I really like that scheme, and it came out looking great!

  7. Looks great! Beautifully done.

Leave a Reply